AVT and ASL do not and cannot mix

There seems to be an ongoing confusion and misunderstanding on the role of Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) by many people thinking it is all about "banning ASL." Simply to say that is a sign that a person does not understand what AVT is about. There is no "banning ASL" in AVT anymore than ASL means that it "bans" the use of voice.  ASL, sign language, SEE, lip-reading, cues, and such do not play a role. AVT is an exercise session set aside for the single purpose to help a child with a hearing aid or cochlear implant to learn, recognize and understand verbal speech sound without looking at the lips or other cues.

From "Auditory-Verbal Therapy:Developing Spoken Language Through ListeningWith ChildrenWho Are Deaf" it describes what AVT is about (note the bolded words below).

Children and their parent(s) are typically seen once, and sometimes twice, a week for Auditory-Verbal therapy. Sessions usually last one hour where audition, speech, language, cognition, and communication goals are integrated into natural, playful, and age-appropriate activities. The therapist models for the parents the skill to be developed, then guides the parents as they participate actively in establishing the goal. The emphasis is on the process of listening for learning speech and language without the use of visual cues, such as lipreading or sign language. For each verbal interaction, the child is first presented with auditory information, the parent and/or child then verbally responds to what was heard, and finally the auditory cue is reinforced with a toy, picture, or action. Listening is linked with speech, and vice versa, so that listening is an active rather than a passive process.

Simply put, AVT is a speech recognition training exercise for deaf and hard of hearing children who are hearing aid or cochlear implant users. ASL or any signing cannot be used in this therapy because it does not serve a purpose in AVT at all. NONE! ASL cannot serve as a tool to help train the ear during AVT anymore than voice alone can serve as a tool to help train on teaching ASL.

AVT is not about discouraging lip-reading, either. It'd be ludicrous to think it's about discouraging lip-reading because AVT is about picking up and recognizing the spoken word. People who say that AVT is about discouraging lip-reading generally do not understand the goal of AVT. It's about training the ear and the brain to recognize and understand the spoken words. It cannot get any simpler than that, folks!

So, for a person to go around and spout that AVT "bans" ASL is either practicing the art of terminological inexactitude or the person simply does not know what he or she is talking about thinking AVT is against ASL. That is hardly the case. AVT is about the emphasis on the process of listening for learning speech and language without the use of visual cues, such as lipreading or sign language. Think of AVT like a telephone exercise where speaking and listening is required. ASL would be impossible here and serves no purpose. ASL cannot be used in a telephone conversation. Right?

I hope ya'll understand what AVT is about now.

Atlanta Braves Baseball Donates Money to AVT

This is a great contribtuion by the Atlanta Braves baseball who donated $2500.00 for future scholarships toward Auditory-Verbal therapy (AVT) in teaching kids to hear and speak without the use of sign language.

ATLANTA—October 10, 2008— At a recent Atlanta Braves game, the Auditory-Verbal Center Inc. was awarded $2,500 to be used for scholarships toward Auditory-Verbal therapy. Each year the Atlanta Braves Foundation grants funds to youth-serving organizations that focus on health, education, and recreation; and the Auditory-Verbal Center (AVC) was proud to be a first-time recipient.

“AVC offers an opportunity for mildly to profoundly deaf children to learn how to hear and speak without the use of sign-language or lip reading; it is a great honor for this unique work to be recognized by an organization such as the Atlanta Braves Foundation.” says Debbie Brilling, executive director of the Auditory-Verbal Center, Inc.

I remember back then living near Atlanta, Georgia during the mid 1970s and early 1980s my family would attend the Braves baseball game soaking in all that experience up in the bleachers. And watch Dale Murphy go at bat and hit a home run.